27 Mar Why Silence Is Golden for Business

Ambient noise has the ability to make or break your focus, creativity and work quality. What’s the right level for you?

Written by Daniela Cavalletti

5 min read

For my husband and me, this year is all about another step in going global with our respective businesses. Recently, we’ve spent a few months with clients (and family, handy) in the Dutch city of Den Haag aka The Hague. In a few months’ time our next move is to Tasmania’s Launceston. So very soon, like bona-fide digital nomads, we’ll be flitting between Sydney, “Lonnie” and The Hague.

And one big thing coming with this change – and one that I’m really looking forward to – is this: blissful silence, the quietness.

Why I Liked Going Dutch

One thing that struck me while we were in The Hague was how working in this bustling city was so much less hectic and noisy than our current inner-city living. And this is one of the major cities in The Netherlands; seat of The International Court of Justice, the Cabinet, the King’s palace, embassies, international businesses, etc.

No small town. The pace of life is pleasantly slow, however.

The overall atmosphere has a gentle whisper and hum, rather than being a shouting cacophony. Even in winter people mostly choose to commute by bike. Car drivers very rarely use their horn (or middle fingers) to communicate with other people in traffic. The streets are wide and less busy. Public transport is frequent and on time (gasp!). People work hard and are very productive.

But very rarely do they do overtime. Instead, they are at home with their family for dinners and free-time together.

Productivity Soars in Silence

I experienced all this first hand earlier this year – including my own productivity rising, and stress levels dropping. I somehow had more time while I was doing a hell of a lot more fun stuff or things for myself. So I started to wonder what exactly made me so much more effective in my business.

Turns out, we all need a certain level of quiet – and the right type and level of noise – for us to work productively.

Physics: Listening to Freddie Mercury 

When I was in my early 20s, my then-boyfriend was studying for his final physics university exams … all while lying on the floor and listening to one Queen album after the next. At full blast.

While this experience started my life-long love for the immensely talented Freddie Mercury and his voice, I was utterly aghast at the noise level. I need silence (plus order and a comfortable position) to be able to concentrate. Noise grates on me and distracts me.

And science is on my side here. At least partially.

Unsound Conditions

Neuroscientists have figured out why you and I often can’t concentrate at work. Essentially, while you might think of yourself – like I do – as “a visual” person, the look of your surrounds, while important, are only one part of the distraction-puzzle. In fact, we all have a complex ‘connectome’ of brain cells that connects all of our senses.

So, for example. Me trying to write this blog post in an awkward position, with a lawn-mower roaring outside my window, while lunch-smells waft over to my desk … That will leave me utterly distracted, frustrated – and creating a crappy piece of writing.

My senses are just too busy, doing their thing, for me to fully concentrate. I’m unproductive. Of all senses, our perception of sound, neuroscience has found, is particularly important to our levels of attention.

In short: good acoustic design – with the “right” type and level of noise – of our workspace equals good business.

Brain Dumped Noise

Eve Edelstein, a neuro-architect, says that “loud noise has become one of the greatest irritants at work. One study showed that 99% of employees reported that their concentration was impaired by various types of office noise, especially telephones left ringing at vacant desks and people talking in the background.”

We all can relate to that.

Our brain controls the mental and physical processes required to achieve focus, concentration, and to be creative. So often the reason why sound distracts us is because unwanted noises compete with other input and processes.

Introducing white noise into your work environment is one solution to this. But this is also tricky, because different activities need different sound levels and types.

How to Have your Work Hum Along

So, is noise always bad? Not at all. As my Queen-loving ex-boyfriend shows, some like it louder than others.

Ambient noise can be calming and beneficial to your focus. Just think going for a massage or acupuncture treatment and the calming chants or music in the background. They help you relax and be fully present usually.

Is there a correct type or level of noise to stay focused and creative then?

Turns out you’re best off – i.e. turn up your creativity – when your ambient noise is 70 decibels.

No more, no less.

The Creative Magic of Ambient Noise, And Silence

Whether you like to go to a coffee shop or listen to the white noise of rain pit-pattering on pebbles, using an app or otherwise. The choice is yours and highly individual.

I find it hard to be creative or concentrate deeply in a café or other environment where there are sudden, unexpected interruptions or noises (the waiter asking me something, a plate crashing to the floor in the kitchen, or the movement of people coming and going at a fast rate).

But listening to birds and the sounds of nature through the open window is helping me focus; it makes me happy. Or I pop in my headphones without sound to bring the noise level down when I have to be in a busy environment (like a plane or shared office space).

Science backs up the fact that there is a general right level of noise – under 50 isn’t enough, over 85 decibels is bad for concertation and creativity.

But 70 decibels: that’s your magic number. So turn it up or turn it down.

Whatever you need to do. Just ensure you and your team are all feeling comfortable with the ambient noise level.

They, and your business, will thank you for it.

PS: Oh, and that boyfriend of mine back in the day? He did pass his uni physics exam, though sadly not with the high marks he was hoping for. He still loves listening to Queen, though. And only at full blast.